Improvement in feed-water heaters and feeders



G. H. BURROUGHS. Feed Water Heaters and Feeders.

Patented Oct. 9, 1877.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON o c UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BURROUGHS, OF PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN FEED-WATER HEATERS AND FEEDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,975, dated October9, 1877; application filed December 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gno. H. BURROUGI-IS, of Princeton, in the comity ofMercer and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Safety Feed Pumps, of which the following is aspecification:

The object of this invention is to furnish a convenient, efficient, andcomplete steampump, which shall supply steam boilers with feedwater,(acting independently of engine and engineer,) shall supersede injectorsand-forcepumps and shall prevent accidents occasioned by impure and lowwater, and a large proportion of those which arise from the carelessnessand incompetency of attendants.

It consists in the arrangement of the chambers, valves, and pipes whichconnect the parts one with another and with the boiler; in thecombination of the said valve mechanism with the several parts and withthe boiler, as hereinafter described; and in the devices (necessary toits completeness) for balancing the valve A, for heating and purifyingthe water, and for sounding an alarm in case of any stoppage orderangement of the apparatus.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a vertical section ofthis feeding device. Fig. 2 represents the valve A in verticalcrosssection perpendicular to that of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The boiler is supposed to stand to the right, out of the field ofvision.

The following is a description of my invention: The cylindrical chamberI J is divided into two compartmentsthe upper one, I, for cold water.The lower one, J, is the pump proper. J contains a hollow float, G,filled with air. It carries a rod, g, which, by means of the lever H,actuates the "alve A. G is a valve opening .upward, and admitting thewater from the tank or other source of supply. B is another valveopening downward, and so counterpoised by the ball i as just to remainclosed. Another valve, D, admits the water to the boiler when thepressure upward through it is greater than that in the boiler. 92 and kare cooks for emptying the pump, or. for filling it at the start.

To the right of the pipe Z is the heater and purifier L g. It is acylinder, with numerous pipes, ff f, conveying the exhaust steam (or, ifthere be no exhaust steam, the requisite quantity of live steam) fromtop to bottom through the feed-water. These pipes f f are fastened intothe circular boiler-plate y,which extends horizontally outside of themfar enough to allow it to accommodate itself to their expansion. 1' is asmall orifice openingfrom the top of the pipe Z into the upper part ofthe heater.

The pipe I), with cock, is for the purpose of blowing off the collectedsediment. The pipe h connects with the boiler below the waterline W.

T is the steam-pipe, whichconnects the pump with the upper part of thesteam-space of the boiler. \Vhen this pipe nears the plug-valve A itdivides into two branchesone,(l, entering the plug above, (see Fig. 2,)and running downward and backward to its exit 0 into .I. The otherbranch, e, enters the plug below, and, running upward and backward,opens through S into the top of the pump-chamber J. This arrangementgives a perfectly-balanced valve, whether closed or open, whatever bethe pressure of the steam. By a similar arrangement, when this valve isreversed, and the passages a and c for the entrance of steam from theboiler are closed, the orifices c and d from the chamber J will open (0through a; and (I through 2;) into the pipe It and orifice t, and thusform a passage from the lower chamber J to the upper chamber I. Thisagain gives a balanced valve under any pressure and in any position.

lonnected with the valve A is a rod and ball, 0, which holds the valvein check until sufficient force has accumulated to render its actionquick and complete. Attached to this rod is a horizontal rod, X, whichconnects, by means of a ratchet-wheel and pinion, with the dials, onwhich the number of gallons passed through the pump is registered.

Immediately over the valve D is the safetyalarm q, to give notice incase of any derangement of the pump. In it are two compound bars, M M,of brass and iron or other metals. Above them is the valve F, whichopens a passage to the whistle N. V is a handle, by which this valve maybe occasionally opened from the outside to prevent its sticking.

To the left of the pump is the fire-nozzle Q and air-chamber K, whichean bebrought into immediate use by opening the eoek l.

The operation is as follows: Both chambers of the pump are to be tilledalong with the boiler before tiring up; or the pump can be filled at anytime from beneath through the cock k by opening the valve A and the cocka. The float (l is now lighter than the surrounding water, and willrise. This will turn the valve A, so as to connect the tubes S and T,opening a passage for the steam from the boiler. The pump is nowvirtually a part of the boiler. The pressure is the same in each, andthe water being higher in the former will, by its own weight, flow intothe latter. This current will eontinue until the water in the pump hasfallen to the line \Y. Then the weight of the float, overcoming theresistanee of the ball 0, will cause it to fall, shut off the steam fromthe boiler, and open a passage, R, between the upper ehamberl andlowerehamber J. This will at once equalize the pressure in I and J, andthe weight of the water in I will open the valve B. It will dash down,condense the steam in J, and prodnee a vacuum. The water from the tankwill rush in and fill the whole pump 1 and J. the eontents of J becomingwarmed by the condensed steam. As soon as quiet has been restored thevalve B will close, the float (i' will rise again, and the action willbe repeated. After passing the valve 1), the water descends to thebottom of the heater and purifier L 1 This is large enough to contain aquantity of water suflieient to supply the boiler for half an hour ormore. It rises very gradually, beeoming heated and depositing itssediment during its ascent. \Vhen the pure water reaches the pipe h itstemperature is nearly or quite 212 Fahrenheit, and its gradualintroduction into the boiler occasions no peretqitible lowering oftemperature there. and does not eheek the speed of the engine.

The safety-alarm q is ordinarily tilled with water moderately warmed;but should any stoppage of the pump oeeur, and the water in it fall aslow as the top of the pipe Z, the steam, entering through the oritiee r,will take the place of the water in the alarm. The compound bars M Mwill curve with the increased heat, open the valve 1, and blow thewhistle N This is a notice at onee of derangement of the pump and of lowwater in the boiler.

1 do not eontine myself to the precise form and arrangement of any ofthe parts described,

as various modifications may be made in many 1 ways without infringingthe essentials and in tegrity of this invention.

()n steamships and locomotives the valves ean be held in place bysprings instead of gravity. An air-chamber may be inserted between I andJ to prevent the overheating of the water in I. The whole apparatus maybe packed to prevent the loss of heat. The pump may be used as aforce-pump or fire-engine. In the latter ease two pumps can be placedside by side, their valves A consisting of one round bar, so bored as tocause the pumps to work alternately. This would form a most ettlcientfire-en gine. Such changes and adaptations are only modifications, notproperly departures from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters latent- 1. The ehamber I, provided with a valve for admittingsteam, in eombination with chamber J and a valve for establishingcommunication between the two, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The eombination of chambers I J, valves A B, aml float (l, as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The chamber 1. incombination with valve A, passage R, chaniber J, andvalve C, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The eombination of chambers I and J and valves ll and A,eonnnunicating with both of said chambers, as and for the purpose setforth.

.7. The combination of chambers I and J, float G, valve A, having leverH, and counterbalance 0, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The valve 1% and steam-passage R, in combination with chambers 1 J,valve A, lever II, counter-l)alanee O, and float G, as and for thepurpose set forth.

7. The valve A, having ports u r .1- z, the. iinluetion-pipes u e i S,and eduction-pipes c (I It, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The eombination of chamber 1, counterbalanced valve 13, and valve 0,as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The chamber J, float G, steanrpipe. T, valve 1), and heater L, as andfor the purpose set forth.

10. The alarm consisting of compound bars M M, valve 1, whistle N, andsteam-passage r, as and for the purpose set forth.

(l. H. BURROUGIIS.

\Yitnesses JAM 1 1s TIIURINGTON, CHARLES It. HENDRICKSON.

